Vol.2 Chapter 38 (Patreon)

"And those are all of our sponsors for this tournament!" announced the panelist as the commercial break came to an end.

About time! Those are a lot of sponsors! I would’ve surely fallen asleep watching the sponsors if it weren’t for Liz chatting me up while commenting on every single one of the brands which I know nothing about. I personally don't place much importance on wearing or using products from well-known brands. For me, what matters most is that the functionality of the product is reliable and meets my needs. As long as it serves its purpose effectively, I am satisfied, regardless of the brand name attached to it.

"And now, the fight you’ve all been waiting for! The grand finale of the one-on-one tournament is imminent!" the panelist hyped, preparing the audience for the climax of the one-on-one competition.

“That’s right Raze, on top of receiving the cash prize for their team, they will receive the most coveted prize of the tournament, the glory of being crowned as the strongest player under 20!” his co-panelist followed suit, eliciting more cheers from the crowd.

“What do you think of the matchup this time around, Mr. Bogdan?” the lead panelist asked the special guest, Vlad, for his predictions.

“Hmm…” Vlad pondered a little longer than usual before replying. “In terms of flexibility and skills, Ariadne has the advantage from her showing thus far. But I can’t underestimate Arthur’s threat of being able to one-shot Ariadne with his weapon skill if it connects, therefore, I think this fight would be decided whether Ariadne can dodge Arthur’s weapon skill or not,” he shared his honest thoughts, which I agree with completely.

From Aria’s performance throughout the matches, I could clearly see she is in her top form. She has every advantage she can against her opponent. I know that for a fact… but why can’t I still stop myself from worrying? As if I have this sinking feeling in my chest that she might still lose.

I shook my head to banish all negative thoughts. No, Aria will win this match. I just have to believe in her. She is one of the strongest players I’m acquainted with, after all.

Observing my fidgety behavior, Liz, who was sitting beside me, expressed her concern. "Are you alright, Kat?"

"I'm fine… just a bit nervous," I reassured her.

She giggled In response. "You're talking as if you're the one stepping into the match to fight,” she paused a bit as if thinking about what to say next before continuing. “But I understand what you’re getting at. Ria is undeniably strong, the strongest person I’ve ever fought, and I'm wholeheartedly supporting her... however, her opponent this time is quite formidable as well," Liz gave a knowing smile, conveying her understanding of my concerns.

“Yeah, that is what I’m worried about. What if she makes a crucial mistake and gets one shot by his dangerous weapon skill? Everything can happen in a battle, even a single misplay can cost her the game no matter how good she currently is,” I ranted on, conveying my concerns.

In a fight between two equally strong players, anything could happen. Even if you have an advantage, or are favored to win. Every little factor helps, be it psychological, planning, condition of the player, nervousness, readiness, and other tens, if not hundreds of little factors that might come into play just as the match begins.

Liz's compassionate gaze met mine as she spoke with nostalgia. "I understand how you feel, I really do. Back then when I was starting at the game, I watched a battle once that captivated me to my core. When I saw her fight, it was like she was dancing with her opponents/ It was as if their fight was a play, choreographed with her knowing the opponent’s every move and responding to them perfectly.”

“…You did?” I asked, curious about what she was getting at.

"I'm sure you already know who I'm referring to, considering I can't stop talking about her whenever the topic of pro players arises," she admitted.

Suddenly, everything clicked into place. The player avatar Liz was mentioning belonged to me and my sister, her idol, Yuusha.

"That's why I can confidently say that I have much more experience in this realm compared to you, who only recently became a fan of Ria," Liz boasted.

"Well, actually... I'm not exactly her fan," I responded hesitantly, knowing that revealing my true connection as Aria's mentor was not an option.

“Sure, sure. You’re never really honest about your feelings, huh,” she shrugged, making a comment that I really, really, really, wanted to refute. “My point is, at this moment, the best thing we can do is offer our unwavering support to Ria and have faith in her abilities. So, let's do our best in our own way by cheering her on as hard as we possibly can, alright?" Liz gave me an encouraging smile that instantly alleviated all of the worries I didn’t know I was harboring.

I paused, digesting her words and keeping it to heart.

“…You’re right,” I gave a thankful smile in response.

“Hey, the match is starting. You guys can continue your flirting later,” Clarence butted into our conversation to remind us of the match.

“W-what do you mean flirting!?” I exclaimed, my cheeks turning red.

I almost forgot about these two because I was too worried about Aria’s upcoming match. Thankfully Chu doesn’t seem to be perturbed about how noisy we are while they are focused on watching the panelist’s analysis.

"Oh, are we being too loud, Ren? Sorry, we'll try to tone down our flirting so as not to make you feel jealous," Liz said with a teasing smile.

Please don’t just nonchalantly agree with him! At least refute the flirting part!

“Hmph! As if! Who in their right mind would ever like that scheming girl,” Clarence turned his head away, not

I sighed in response. I know for a fact that Liz and Renz were merely teasing me, and it was best not to take their banter too seriously. Engaging in their playful antics would only result in my own loss, so I decided it was better to let it go. Still, I prefer to be called a strategist, rather than a scheming girl.

"I never mentioned who he's jealous of or whom he likes in the first place, though," Liz whispered in a barely audible voice, making sure that only I could hear her.

THUMP*

I instantly hit her with a light chop to the head to keep her antics at bay. She’s getting a little bit out of hand lately, therefore she is in dire need of some disciplinary actions.

“Ow! That again!” Liz exaggeratedly exclaimed while rubbing her temple.

“It’s your fault. If you keep that up, I’m really going to be mad,” I said firmly.

“Fine, fine, I’ll stop… for now.”

I ignored the last part to focus on watching the casters who were about to announce the start of the match.

“And now that our insights and analysis of the match are over, let’s all head on to your favorite casters, DJ Riot and Paratrooper for the in-game match commentaries!” With his familiar and well-practiced words, the lead panelist smoothly transitioned the attention toward the casters, signaling the imminent commencement of the match.

"Absolutely, Raze! Now that we have reached the finals, I have a question for our audience... ARE YOU ALL READY FOR AN EPIC SHOWDOWN?!!" the caster exclaimed at the top of his lungs, exuding an infectious energy.

The response was overwhelmingly loud, with the resounding cheers and shouts reverberating even within the confines of our isolated room. It was evident that the caster's passionate efforts had not been in vain, as the audience reciprocated his enthusiasm wholeheartedly.

“That is what I’d like to hear! How about you Paratrooper, who do you think has the advantage in this match?” Riot asked his co-caster.

"…It's truly difficult to say," Paratrooper voiced his honest opinion. "While Ariadne may be the more skilled player amongst the two, as the panelists mentioned, one wrong move against Arthur and it could be all over. Arthur's expertise in utilizing his overpowered weapon skill is well-known. Considering Ariadne's lower survivability, a single hit from Arthur's weapon skill could potentially decide the outcome. It would be unwise to underestimate him."

"That's assuming Arthur can even land a hit on her. Let's not forget that we're talking about Yuusha's protégé here," DJ Riot countered,

After a moment of contemplation, Paratrooper conceded, "Well, you do have a point."

With the stage set, the anticipation growing, the lead caster resolutely exclaimed, "Well, we shall soon find out for ourselves in the upcoming match! Who will emerge victorious? Who will be crowned as the game's strongest player under 20? Will it be Ariadne, the successor of Yuusha and the Captain of the new generation of Paragons? Or will it be Arthur, the esteemed leader of the renowned Round Table Guild and the wielder of one of the strongest Unique Weapon skills in the game? Ladies and gentlemen, the moment has arrived as we finally shift our focus to the thrilling match ahead!"

As the caster said his piece, the screen then transitioned to the familiar Colesseum-themed arena for the final match of the one-on-one tournament.

Aria

HP: 100%

Arthur

HP: 100%

3…

2…

1…

Match Start!

Just as the system announced the start of the battle, both Aria and Arthur stood their ground, their respective stance in tow while warily looking at each other in complete silence.

“O-oh, what is this? Nobody is making a move?”

“That is to be expected Riot. It’s the finals after all so they have to be extra wary in dealing with their opponents since they also made it to the finals. Both players also seem to hold each other’s skills in high regard, resulting in a staring contest. This could be over in an instant if they are not careful,” Paratrooper answered his partner and most likely the audience’s unvoiced question.

Arthur was the first one to speak.

“Before we begin, I would like to say that I really admire you,”

A bit caught off guard by the sudden praise, Ariadne stayed silent.

“On top of being the strongest player in the tournament, you also lead one of the largest and strongest guilds in CoA. Above all, you are also one of the strongest CoA player’s successors.”

“Please get to the point…” Aria said curtly.

I let out a sigh at the exchange. Honestly, that girl's personality is quite straightforward and direct, as always. She doesn't beat around the bush and gets straight to the point. She needs to lighten up a little sometimes.

Arthur for his part took it in stride giving her a humored smile.

“As strict as the rumors say I see,” he gave Aria a lighthearted chuckle before continuing. “My point is, I also bear the same expectations from my friends, guildmates, and everyone dear to me. I won’t hold back. I will give it my all to win this match not only for me but also for those who believe in me… cause I know you would also do the same. So may the stronger player win,” Arthur declared with unwavering determination. His words carried such conviction that the atmosphere around him seemed to shift, filled with a renewed sense of intensity.

“…That is what I like to hear,“ Aria replied, taking his declaration of war in good stride. She seemed to appreciate his fighting spirit and took his words as a welcome challenge.

Following their brief exchange, both fighters dashed forward simultaneously, their movements synchronized in a display of fierce determination.

“Oh! Both players are suddenly going on the offensive! It looks like this battle will be intense folks!

Just as they were both near each other, Aria’s weapon shifted into a spear, catching Arthur off guard with the extended reach far surpassing his own and managing to land a hit on his square chest.

“Urgh!”

Arthur

HP: 88%

“Oh her weapon shifted into a spear! It looks like Ariadne won’t be holding back in using her weapon skill this time!” the caster stated the obvious.

Arthur retaliated by doing a quick vertical slash, an attack so fast that I doubted if Aria would be able to dodge it.

In response, Aria’s weapon suddenly shifted into two daggers with serrated edges and long cross guards on its sides. A weapon primarily for parrying swords and other blades.

She used her dominant right hand to parry the slash then quickly countered with her left, a critical hit right through her opponent’s head.

TING*

KACHACK*

Arthur

HP: 63%

The simultaneous sound of both her parry and dagger strike resonated throughout the arena, eliciting more cheers from the audience.

"An incredible move by Ariadne!" the caster exclaimed with excitement. "Her weapon transformed into a main gauche, allowing her to expertly parry Arthur's fast swing, and deliver a quick counterattack in response! On top of being extremely skilled at dodging, she could parry perfectly too! Is there nothing this player can’t do?!”

Arthur, noticing his disadvantage, distances himself to create a breathing room. Seeing that her opponent has no means of dealing damage long-range, Ariadne let her opponent go without pursuing, opting for a safer option by turning her weapon into a whip, barraging Arthur with whip strikes and slowly dwindling his HP little by little.

Arthur

HP: 50%

"Now her weapon has transformed into a long-ranged whip!" the caster exclaimed, observing the shift in Ariadne's arsenal. "While it may lack the raw damage of a conventional weapon, the continuous strikes from the whip will gradually wear down Arthur. This poses a significant challenge for him, especially considering his lack of means to heal himself."

That’s right. if Arthur let this drag on for a while, his HP would drop to zero. He has no choice but to go aggressive again and risk fighting Aria’s ever-changing weapon skill at close range. Looks like Aria is trapping him, little by little with her on-point tactics and skilled plays. It won’t be long before she eventually wins this fight… but what is this feeling? Even though I know she is bound to win, I can’t help but still worry about her.

The status quo dragged on for a while, with Arthur receiving more and more hits due to Aria’s unrelenting whip strikes.

Arthur

HP: 31%

“Oh Hoh! Looks like Ariadne is just too strong for Arthur to fight against! What a dominant showing for the Paragon’s Captain!” the caster commented.

The match is more one-sided than I thought it would be... not that I'm complaining. Aria's level in her current state is just too strong for anyone in this tournament to beat right now.

Not having any other option, Arthur finally rushed towards his opponent. Arthur lunged forward, his blade aimed directly at Aria. With lightning speed and precision, he executed a ferocious strike, but to his astonishment, Aria effortlessly evaded it.

In a display of agility and grace, Aria's movements flowed seamlessly, her body becoming an extension of her instincts. Time seemed to slow as Arthur’s strike passed through thin air, missing its target by a hair's breadth. Having dodged the strike, Aria’s weapon then shifted into a dagger. Determined to finish the match once and for all, Ariadne did a two-hit critical attack aimed at Arthur’s head.

It's over, Arthur cannot possibly survive two critical hits. That is what was supposed to happen, but the hits didn't connect as I thought it would. Arthur managed to grab hold of Aria's dominant hand, preventing one of the strikes from connecting. Moreover, he narrowly evaded her other dagger strike, dodging it with mere inches to spare.

What is with that sudden burst of speed?! This is bad! Now I know where this sinking feeling is coming from. It was my intuition screaming at me. Arthur planned this from the start. Recognizing the disparity in skill between himself and Aria, Arthur made a calculated decision. He purposefully slowed his movements by a fraction right from the start of the match, creating an illusion of Aria's complete dominance in their fight. In response, Aria let her guard down, perhaps underestimating the situation. Unbeknownst to her, Arthur had been biding his time, waiting for this opportune moment to turn the tides and deliver a decisive blow.  Arthur took a significant gamble that ultimately paid off, leading to this situation.

The saying when it rains, it pours. The safe bet was to play it safe and get away as soon as possible from Arthur’s grasp, but unfortunately, Aria doubled down on the offensive. Aria did another dagger attack with her free hand. It connected but was barely able to kill her opponent.

Arthur

HP: 7%

I don't blame her, for being a bit greedy and rushing her last attack. It is always when nearing the end of the tunnel that we often get careless and rush towards the light. Arthur only capitalizes on Aria's human emotions and her eagerness to end the fight by devising a plan in order to turn the tides of the battle. It is more Arthur's outplay than Aria's mistake that resulted in this outcome. Now that Aria wasted her opportunity and was not able to deal a decisive blow, Arthur’s strike is about to hit her.

His sword glowed with its customary golden hue, signifying the oncoming onslaught.

"No!" I exclaimed loudly, unable to contain my reaction as I rose from the comfort of the sofa chair. The unexpected turn of events caught me off guard, filling me with a surge of negative emotions.

Aria, please dodge it! I shouted a wish deep in my heart.

Sadly, my wish was not granted.

As Arthur's sword emitted a radiant glow, he scraped the weapon against the ground, infusing it with an ethereal energy. With his left arm firmly gripping Aria's hand, he executed an upward swing towards her with resolute determination.

“I got you now! Golden Sanctity!" Arthur declared as he made his attack.

BOOM*

The golden light burst through the air, flinging Aria upwards with a knock up the impact of the hit.

No... she can't possibly survive taking an attack like that head-on. It can only mean that she... lost?

"What an incredible comeback! Against all expectations, Arthur executed a decisive outplay to secure the victory!" the caster exclaimed with excitement, shattering any lingering hope that Aria might have survived a direct hit.

The camera angle then focused on Aria as she was flung in the air due to the strong impact of the hit.

Ariadne

HP: 52%

What?! She still has 52% hp left... but how?!

Focusing on this angle, the viewers can clearly see that she is currently holding a shield. She blocked the weapon skill and survived the attack in the last second!

"O-oh! what is this!? I spoke too soon, folks! It looks like Ariadne shifted to a shield in the last second, mitigating the damage of Arthur's weapon skill and surviving the attack!"

From the camera's viewpoint, Aria's weapon transformed yet again, this time into a bow. Though still suspended in mid-air, upside down from the force of Arthur's strike, she skillfully aimed the arrow directly at him before releasing it.

Arthur's weapon skill came with its drawbacks with how strong it is, and one such drawback was his temporary immobility immediately after its usage. As a result, he had no means of evading the arrow hurtling towards him.

With uncanny precision, the arrow struck Arthur square in his temple, leading to a moment of stunned silence as the crowd processed the unexpected turn of events.

"What an expert display of marksmanship! Is there nothing this girl can do?!" the caster shouted, a tone of amazement evident in his tone.

Arthur

Hp: 0%

The arrow embedded in his forehead disappeared just as Ariadne switched her weapon back to its normal dagger form.

The surprise was evident on Arthur’s face as his hp dropped to zero.

“I lost... That was a good match...” He made a bittersweet smile at his opponent before disappearing into blue motes of light.

"T-there you have it folks, the strongest player of the new generation of CoA, Yuusha's protégé and the captain of Paragons, Armsmaster Ariadne!" The caster shouted Aria's victory and moniker that suits her perfectly at the top of his lungs, resulting in the crowd's boisterous cheers, all eager to be in the stadium to witness the birth of a new legend.